MATCH INFO

Germany defeats Portugal to stay on top of Pool D

Sebastian Schwarz scored 14 points for Germany

Almirante Brown, Argentina, June 15, 2012 – Germany started their second weekend of the FIVB World League by picking up their third victory, 3-1 (25-17, 25-20, 23-25, 25-19) over winless Portugal at the City Hall Sport Centre in Almirante Brown near Buenos Aires.

Valdir Sequeira of Portugal and Jochen Schops of Germany scored 22 points apiece to lead the scoring.

Germany took an early lead with high blocking and two aces while Portugal missed their first two serves. Portugal spikes helped them score their first three points and they were only two points back at the first technical timeout. Both sides started blocking well. Portugal coach Flavio Gulinelli needed timeouts at 11-7 and 15-9 to try and find answers to his players’ errors. Portugal improved their output, but it was not enough to put the set in danger.

The second set started equal, with both teams scoring on their own good play and opponent mistakes. Germany found their first three-point advantage at 12-9 and were never behind, even though Sequeira from Portugal was by far the best scorer (13 points). With Sequeira serving, the teams were level at 19-19, but Germany found its rhythm at the key points to move into a 2-0 lead. Portugal weren’t helped by 18 errors.

Both teams started the third set without changes, and Portugal moved into a 5-1 lead, prompting Vital Heyen to make two quick timeouts. As Portugal grew in confidence, Germany made mistake after mistake and were five points behind at the first TTO. Germany brought in Patrick Steuerwald and Christian Fromm but they couldn’t make a difference so they returned to the bench very quickly. Heynen continued to make changes but Portugal were five points up at the second TTO. Germany recovered, but couldn’t stop Portugal picking up their first set in this year’s World League.

The two teams fought point-by-point at the start of the fourth set but Germany moved into the lead with good concentration and helped by Portugal making too many errors (8-4). Gulinelli called a timeout at 5-11, but the Germans were playing with confidence and their lead grew to eight points at 18-10, after which they had no trouble closing the set and the match.

On Saturday, Portugal face Bulgaria in the first match while Argentina plays Germany in the second match.

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